Jury still undecided in chief's trial

3/30/2001

SANDUSKY - Jurors went home early yesterday after deliberating for the second day in the case of the Perkins Township police chief who's accused of stealing more than $20,000.

The jurors stopped their deliberations in Erie County Common Pleas Court at 4 p.m., after discussing Chief Tim McClung's criminal case for more than six hours.

They started deliberating Wednesday morning and have spent a total of 13 hours reviewing the 40-count criminal case. They are planning to return to the courthouse this morning.

Jurors asked several questions on Wednesday, but had no questions throughout the day yesterday for visiting Judge Richard Markus, defense attorney Jim Hart, or Special Prosecutor John Weglian. They had court officials order pizzas for them over the lunch break.

Chief McClung, 38, is charged with theft in office, money laundering, forgery, and tampering with evidence.

The chief, who remains on the job, is accused of taking money from his department's canine fund and from a national organization he belongs to.

Prosecutors said the chief cashed checks and placed the money into his personal accounts. They have accused him of destroying records from the private canine fund in 1998 when he learned he was being investigated.

Chief McClung, who took the stand last week during his five-day trial, testified that he did not steal money.

The chief said he often spent his own money on canine expenses, asking for reimbursements later - if at all.